Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Apparently (according to my wife) a turtle dug a hole in the front yard, laid three eggs, covered the hole up and disappeared. I would like to know what to expect (maybe some background on breeding/birthing habits of turtles) and how to protect the nest and provide a good environment. Since I didn't see the turtle, I can only assume that it is one like we've seen around here before - orangeish box turtle - from what I've gleaned from the web, maybe an Eastern. We live in central Virginia. The hole was dug on the NW side of the house, between the house and the sidewalk in a place where I added some topsoil to try to help an erosion problem. There is an eneven place in the sidewalk, and water falls off in a certain place (erosion) - and with all the rain we've been having I guess it is attractive to a turtle with child. Any correspondence would be appreciated.

you could fence off the area and maybe relocate the hatchlings unless you have good habitate surrounding you.. but do not keep them they are easterns and they need all the help they can get(as a species), if you live in a highly developed area I do recomend relocating the hatchlings.. usually they start hatching after 2 months of incubation, they're completly independant once they emerge from the nest, and wont feed for atleast a week after hatching, they probly will stay in the nest for a week.. or longer depending on how cold it is when they hatch, some hatchlings over winter in their nests.
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My Site
1.2.1 Terrapene Carolina Triunguis
0.0.1 Nymphicus hollandicus
1.0 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.1 American Cocker Spaniels
1.0 American Short Hair? Cat
1.1 Rouen Ducks

I had thought about fencing the area but I didn't know whether the mother would (or needed) to come back and tend the eggs. Two months you say - I guess I won't be trying to plant grass there! What about the moisture. During rain it's pretty wet (water running off across the area) but if we get a dry spell... how moist should it be kept, or is that an issue? If I just made sure that nobody stepped on or otherwise disturbed the area, what would be the chances of succesful hatching by just letting nature handle it?

I'm in central VA, too, and just e-mailed you off-list.
There are different measures you can take to protect the nest til the eggs hatch, which we can talk about, but the mama turtle won't be back to tend the nest, so that won't be an issue.
No harm in planting grass around the nest for your erosion problem, I'd just leave a 6 inch bare patch over top of it, but no fertilizer, please, within 3 ft or so.
Stephanie